New York News

New York state has new rules to stop independent political groups from unfairly helping candidates for elected office — though critics say the measure won't fix chronic corruption in Albany and could have negative unintended consequences.

Beginning Friday and continuing Saturday, the annual Kateri Takekwitha/Fonda Peace Conference will bring together a spectrum of speakers dedicated to promoting peace. The conference, now in its 18th year, will also feature a retreat day lead by a local imam and a Franciscan friar.

Maureen Aumand, an organizer of the event, spoke with WAMC’s Southern Adirondack Bureau Chief Lucas Willard about what’s on the schedule this weekend.

Joining Saratoga County and the neighboring Town of Malta, Saratoga Springs approved a resolution Tuesday night to ask the State Department of Transportation to reconsider a proposal to close the Nelson Avenue Extension Bridge, which the agency calls costly to maintain.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo Saturday directed assistance from the state Department of Environmental Conservation to the Buckeye Terminal at the Port of Rensselaer where 600 gallons of gasoline was spilled.

Saratoga Springs has become a hotbed for development. Much of downtown’s development in recent years has been in the form of new high-end apartments and condos. One recent headline showed a condo in the heart of the city for sale for $5.5 million.

In July, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the availability of $200 million in enhanced assistance for local governments over the next two years to rehabilitate and replace bridges and culverts statewide. The timing is critical.

At Wednesday’s meeting of the NYRA Reorganization Board, chair Michael Del Guidice began by expressing his desire to bring the organization that has been under state control for the last several years back to a private non-profit in 2017.

New York state’s education commissioner, MaryEllen Elia, says she’s fighting a proposal by her predecessor, now the federal education secretary, John King, to punish schools with a high-opt out rate from the standardized tests.

The New York state Senate Health and Environmental Conservation Committees have announced their long-awaited hearings into the PFOA drinking water contamination in the Hoosick Falls area. The committees say this morning the hearing will be August 30 at 10:30 at Hoosick Falls High School. They say the purpose of the hearing is to “explore the sources of water contamination, examine local, state, and federal oversight issues, and hear from experts, local residents, and others on what can be done to assist affected communities and mitigate future incidents.” Residents can offer public comment but must register ahead of time with the committees.

The backyard of the Fasig-Tipton sales pavilion on Tuesday evening was jammed with racing fans. On a dark-day at Saratoga Race Course across the street, the show of opulence was here, with expensive cars being valet parked and a well-dressed crowd out back sipping drinks.